Rotational force capturing apparatus

ABSTRACT

The invention is a novelty device that appears to be in perpetual motion when in an active position. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The invention is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/851,941 to Gene Brown, entitled ROTATIONAL FORCE CAPTURING APPARATUS and filed on Mar. 14, 2013.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of novelty items, and in particular, to devices that appear to be in perpetual motion.

PROBLEM STATEMENT Interpretation Considerations

This section describes the technical field in more detail, and discusses problems encountered in the technical field. This section does not describe prior art as defined for purposes of anticipation or obviousness under 35 U.S.C. section 102 or 35 U.S.C. section 103. Thus, nothing stated in the Problem Statement is to be construed as prior art.

Discussion

Entire retail chains have been built around novelty items—from the Sharper Image to Brookstone, mall-goers flock every year to find the latest “cool” gadget to put on a shelf at their home or office. One class of devices that gain attention seems to defy the laws of physics—at least for a time. From spinning levitation pins to the swinging pendulum, such items are quite popular, and there is an ever-present market demand for new and novel devices that appear to defy the laws of physics. The present invention provides such a device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various aspects of the invention, as well as an embodiment, are better understood by simultaneous reference to the description and drawings that illustrate and comprise various aspects of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side-view of the rotational motion wheel.

FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the rotational motion wheel.

FIG. 3 is a second isometric view of the rotational motion wheel.

DESCRIPTION OF A BEST MODE Interpretation Considerations

When reading this section (An Exemplary Embodiment of a Best Mode, which describes an exemplary embodiment of the best mode of the invention, hereinafter “exemplary embodiment”), one should keep in mind several points. First, the following exemplary embodiment is what the inventor believes to be the best mode for practicing the invention at the time this patent was filed. Thus, since one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from the following exemplary embodiment that substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts may be used to achieve the same results in exactly the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way, the following exemplary embodiment should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to one embodiment.

Likewise, individual aspects (sometimes called species) of the invention are provided as examples, and, accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from a following exemplary structure (or a following exemplary act) that a substantially equivalent structure or substantially equivalent act may be used to either achieve the same results in substantially the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way.

Accordingly, the discussion of a species (or a specific item) invokes the genus (the class of items) to which that species belongs as well as related species in that genus. Likewise, the recitation of a genus invokes the species known in the art. Furthermore, it is recognized that as technology develops, a number of additional alternatives to achieve an aspect of the invention may arise. Such advances are hereby incorporated within their respective genus, and should be recognized as being functionally equivalent or structurally equivalent to the aspect shown or described.

Second, the only essential aspects of the invention are identified by the claims. Thus, aspects of the invention, including elements, acts, functions, and relationships (shown or described) should not be interpreted as being essential unless they are explicitly described and identified as being essential. Third, a function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of doing that function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated (for example, one recognizes that “tacking” may be done by nailing, stapling, gluing, hot gunning, riveting, etc., and so a use of the word tacking invokes stapling, gluing, etc., and all other modes of that word and similar words, such as “attaching”).

Fourth, unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”, “and”, “including”, or “comprising” for example) should be interpreted in the inclusive, not the exclusive, sense. Fifth, the words “means” and “step” are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of the invention and do not mean “means” or “step” as defined in §112, paragraph 6 of 35 U.S.C., unless used as “means for —functioning—” or “step for —functioning—” in the Claims section. Sixth, the invention is also described in view of the Festo decisions, and, in that regard, the claims and the invention incorporate equivalents known, foreseeable, and unforeseeable. Seventh, the language and each word used in the invention should be given the ordinary interpretation of the language and the word, unless indicated otherwise.

Some methods of the invention may be practiced by placing the invention on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable mediums include passive data storage, such as a random access memory (RAM) as well as semi-permanent data storage such as a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM). In addition, the invention may be embodied in the RAM of a computer and effectively transform a standard computer into a new specific computing machine.

Data elements are organizations of data. One data element could be a simple electric signal placed on a data cable. One common and more sophisticated data element is called a packet. Other data elements could include packets with additional headers/footers/flags. Data signals comprise data, and are carried across transmission mediums and store and transport various data structures, and, thus, may be used to transport the invention. It should be noted in the following discussion that acts with like names are performed in like manners, unless otherwise stated.

Of course, the foregoing discussions and definitions are provided for clarification purposes and are not limiting. Unless otherwise indicated, acronyms used have the ordinary meaning of those acronyms in the context presented, and are readily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Words and phrases are to be given their ordinary plain meaning unless indicated otherwise.

Invention Overview

The invention is described with simultaneous reference to FIGS. 1-3, in which FIG. 1 illustrates a side-view of the rotational motion wheel 110 with other elements shows therein, FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the rotational motion wheel, and FIG. 3 is a second isometric view of the rotational motion wheel.

The novelty rotational wheel 100 generally comprises a wheel-and-axel system having an offset-axel hub 120, five spoke members extending from and affixed to the axel and toward an outer wheel, the rotational motion wheel 110. Of course, the number of spokes can be more or less as design parameters allow, from at least three spoke members up to an arbitrary number, but preferably an odd number of spokes are provided. For each spoke 130, a leg 140 is attached to the rotational motion wheel 110 via pivoting hinges 112, each pivoting hinge 112 separated from each other at equal arcs about the rotational motion wheel 110. Each spoke member 130 is coupled to a leg 140 at a hinge 137. A weight-pair 150 is coupled to each leg 140 at the end opposite the hinge 137, and an auxiliary wheel 160 is rotatably coupled to the circumference of the outer wheel.

In one embodiment, the invention incorporates a motor 300 coupled to the axel 122, which may be a battery-powered micro-motor or a magnet-driven micro-motor.

Of course, it should be understood that the order of the acts of the algorithms discussed herein may be accomplished in different order depending on the preferences of those skilled in the art, and such acts may be accomplished as software. Furthermore, though the invention has been described with respect to a specific preferred embodiment, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present application. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A novelty rotational wheel, comprising: a wheel-and-axel system, comprising: an offset-axel, at least three spoke members extending from and affixed to the axel and toward an outer wheel; at least three legs attached to the wheel via pivot hinges, each hinge separated from each other at equal arcs about the wheel; each spoke member coupled to a leg at a hinge; a weight-pair coupled to each leg; and an auxiliary wheel rotatably coupled to the circumference of the outer wheel.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a battery-powered micro-motor coupled to the axel.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a magnet-driven micro-motor coupled to the axel. 